Separator assembly

Abstract

An apparatus for effecting separation of particles from a mixture of particles and gas, the apparatus comprises: a housing that defines therethrough a channel; an inlet in said housing to admit the mixture of particles and gas into the channel; a deflector in the channel; and a gas outlet port substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the channel and downstream of the deflector; wherein the deflector is shaped to direct the particles past the gas outlet port. A method of separation is also disclosed.

1. An apparatus for effecting separation of particles from a mixture of particles and gas, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing that defines therethrough a channel; 
 an inlet in said housing to admit the mixture of particles and gas into the channel; 
 a deflector in the channel; 
 and a gas outlet port in the channel and downstream of the deflector; 
 wherein the gas outlet port is open in an upstream direction and the deflector is shaped to direct the particles downstream in the channel past the gas outlet port; and 
 wherein the deflector is suspended in the channel without substantially obstructing the channel around the deflector. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a guide in the channel downstream of the deflector and wherein the guide is shaped to direct the gas to the gas outlet port. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the deflector is shaped to deflect the particles outwardly. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the deflector gradually increases in diameter in the downstream direction. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein a longitudinal axis of the deflector extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the guide gradually decreases in diameter in the downstream direction. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the deflector and the guide comprise a single component. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein sides of the deflector are conical and define an angle of approximately 12° to 30° from the longitudinal axis of the channel. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a longitudinal axis of the deflector and the gas outlet port are substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the channel. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gas outlet port comprises a tube projecting into the chamber. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gas outlet port is spaced about 5 to 7 inches from a downstream end of the deflector. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the particles are cereal grain, oil seed or pulse crop particles. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a vacuum generator for drawing the combination of particles and gas into the channel and for drawing the gas out through the gas outlet port. 
     
     
       14. A grain vacuum comprising a vacuum generator and the separator assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the deflector is suspended in the channel from the downstream end of the deflector. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the deflector is suspended in the channel by a member that extends out from the gas outlet port. 
     
     
       17. A method for separating particles from a mixture of particles and gas comprising:
 drawing the mixture into a channel in a downstream direction; 
 directing the flow of the particles along a deflector downstream past a gas outlet in the channel, the gas outlet being open in an upstream direction; 
 drawing the gas out through the gas outlet; 
 wherein the deflector is suspended in the channel without substantially obstructing the channel around the deflector. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17  wherein the gas outlet is centrally located in the channel and directing the flow of particles comprises directing the flow of particles radially outwards. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17  wherein drawing the gas through the gas outlet comprises guiding the gas radially inwardly towards the gas outlet.